Programmable hands free telephone system

Abstract

A hands free telephone system includes a telephone having audio circuits for processing an audio signal and a telephone audio connector for transmitting the audio signal between the audio circuits and the telephone audio connector. A telephone holder has a holder program for instructing the telephone holder to perform telephone functions in accordance with the stored program. The telephone holder has a holder audio connector for mechanically mating with the telephone audio connector and transmitting the audio signal between the telephone audio connector and the programmable holder. A programming device includes circuitry for storing and transmitting the holder program and the programming device has a programming connector for mechanically mating with the holder audio connector and transmitting the holder program between the programming device and the telephone holder by way of the mated programming connector and the holder audio connector, whereby the holder audio connector is adapted to transmit both the audio signal and the holder stored program. The telephone audio connector can be disposed upon the telephone holder.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A hands free telephone system, comprising: 
       a telephone having audio circuits for processing an audio signal, said telephone including a telephone audio connector for receiving said audio signal;  
       a telephone holder including a memory for receiving a holder program, said holder program for instructing said telephone holder to perform telephone functions in accordance with said holder program;  
       said telephone holder further including a holder audio connector for mechanically mating with said telephone audio connector and receiving said audio signal from said telephone audio connector;  
       a programming device including circuitry for storing and transmitting said holder program; and  
       said programming device further including a programming connector for mechanically mating with said holder audio connector and transmitting said holder program from said programming device to said memory, whereby said holder audio connector receives said audio signal from said telephone and also receives said holder program from said programming device.  
     
     
       2. The hands free telephone system of claim  1 , wherein said memory is lockable for preventing alteration of said memory when said memory is locked. 
     
     
       3. In a hands free telephone system including a telephone having audio circuits, a telephone audio connector, a telephone holder having a holder program for instructing said telephone holder as well as a holder audio connector, and a programming device having a programming connector, a method of managing the transmission of programming information between said programming device and the telephone holder and the transmission of audio signals between the telephone and the telephone holder, comprising steps of: 
       (a) processing audio signals by said audio circuits within said telephone;  
       (b) transmitting said processed audio signals between said audio circuits and said telephone audio connector;  
       (c) mating said telephone audio connector and said holder device connector;  
       (d) transmitting said audio signals between said telephone audio connector and said telephone holder;  
       (e) mating said holder audio connector with said programming connector; and  
       (f) transmitting program information between said programming device and said telephone holder by way of said mated holder audio connector and said programming connector whereby both said audio signal and said program information are transmitted by way of said holder audio connector.  
     
     
       4. In a hands free telephone system having a telephone, a telephone holder for performing telephone operations in accordance with a program in a holder memory within said telephone holder, and a programming device for transmitting said program to said telephone holder, a method of programming said telephone holder, comprising said steps of: 
       (a) locking said holder memory to prevent alteration of said holder memory while said holder memory is locked;  
       (b) transmitting programming information from said programming device to said telephone holder;  
       (c) determining whether said transmitted programming information includes unlocking information for permitting alteration of said holder memory; and  
       (d) altering said holder memory in accordance with said transmitted programming information depending upon said determination of step (c).  
     
     
       5. The method of claim  4 , comprising said further step of relocking said holder memory after said altering of step (d).